Top Reasons Why Students Drop Out of College
In more recent years, a college has become the expected route for young people. The majority of young people go onto apply, but unfortunately, it isn’t for everyone. You might find that once you get there, it isn’t what you want, and if so, that’s okay; there are always other options. That being said, it’s good to figure out how you feel as soon as possible. There’s a wide range of reasons why people usually drop out of college. If you’re interested in knowing why then keep reading.
Homesickness
If there’s anything scary about going to college, it’s moving away from home. Some people manage to get into somewhere close to home, but acceptance isn’t guaranteed. Or you might want to move away, and that’s cool too. Sometimes though, when you get to college, you start to miss home a lot more than you thought you would. Especially in the beginning, when you’re getting to know people, it can be quite lonely.
So how do you combat this? If it makes you feel better, definitely stay in contact with your family regularly. Especially in the beginning, this might be helpful to you. Besides that, make sure to get out there and meet plenty of people. Societies are a great place to start as you’ll find people with similar interests. If you put the effort in you’ll make friends in no time! And if that doesn’t work out? You can always try staying close to home with where you study, that way travelling back won’t seem so bad.
The lifestyle
The college lifestyle, we’ve all heard of it, right? And don’t get me wrong, college can be a lot of fun. There’s plenty of parties and social events for you, so a good time is guaranteed. However, that isn’t the main reason you’re there. You go to university to get a degree, and you don’t want to lose your focus and let your grades slip.
The best way to figure this one out is to ask yourself what you want. Do you want a degree, or do you want to go clubbing three times a week? You can always party and socialise at home so don’t apply for the sake of it. At the end of the day, if that’s all you are there for, then it’s a waste of time and money. Make sure you’re making the right decision for yourself. If you decide to go to university, then you can still make time for socialising. Just make sure you’ve got a good balance, and that work is your priority.
Deadlines
College work can sometimes take a while. Depending on what you’re doing, you might need to do research, interview people or even carry out practical activities. Although you might be given a few months to complete it, sometimes that isn’t enough. Even if you work super hard, you might find yourself scrambling as the deadline approaches, and it’s not ideal. A lot of people drop out because they don’t have enough time to complete that work. It’s a lot of pressure to meet deadlines, but there are ways you can avoid that last-minute panic.
For this one, if you’re doing an assignment, start it as soon as possible. The more time you give yourself, the better. Planning is also a terrific way to keep yourself on track. If you do find yourself running out of time, you can always try getting help. That could be from friends, tutors or even services, like ours.
We have our services for sample essay writing and more to help you meet that deadline. There’s always a way!
Money
The part we all dread. For the most part, anyone can get access to college in the UK, but that doesn’t mean it’s not expensive. If your parents earn a low amount, you’ll get the biggest maintenance loan, whereas if your parents earn a lot, you won’t get given much. Many colleges forget that just because your parents have high earnings doesn’t mean they’ll pay for your education. Sometimes even when you receive a decent loan, accommodation is so expensive that it doesn’t cover it. So, what can you do?
One great way to make things more affordable is to get a part-time job. Especially if you’re living in a big city, there should be plenty of opportunities for you to work. It can be hard juggling both college and work, but sometimes it’s necessary, and it’ll pay off. You can also try speaking to your parents and see if they can help you out in any way. We know how difficult it can be, but hopefully, there’s a solution out there for you.
Your course
It’s safe to say you’re spoilt for choice at university. You can pretty much study anything you’ve ever wanted to, but sometimes that’s not helpful. There is such a thing as too much choice. Finding your perfect course can be pretty overwhelming, so you won’t be the only one to get it wrong the first time. Especially when some courses are very similar, finding the right one is tricky. This is another reason why some people decide to leave.
For this problem, you need to put the effort in. There’s still a chance you might find it’s not for you, but if you do as much research as possible, you’ll be feeling confident in your choice. Try reading about the course and even speaking to people who have or are currently studying it. You can also talk to the course leaders and see if they think the course is what you’re looking for. If you want some more help, you can also check out our post on choosing your course. The more you find out, the better you will feel.
Other commitments
Another issue could be that you’ve got other commitments besides college. Life is busy, and everybody has their own things going on. One example of this would be if you’ve got children to look after. It can be tough to fit it all in, and that’s why some students decide they don’t have the time or resources.
This obviously depends on the commitment, but it’s always a good idea to contact your universities student support. You’re probably not the first to have that problem, and they may be able to help you out with it. Also, did you know that some universities offer childcare? Yep! It might come with a small price, but it means being able to go through college knowing you’ve got some help. These are good things to investigate if you think you’re having a hard time.
